OKC Thunder: Lu Dort earns Player of the Week Nomination

The OKC Thunder took a flyer on Lu Dort following the 2019 NBA Draft. The Arizona State Product did not hear his name called draft night and elected to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A team with a history of developing young talents and falling in love with elite defenders that lack a jump shot, oh yeah, and developed Dort’s favorite player of all time, Russell Westbrook.

After inking Dort to a two-way deal, he immediately came into the league and made an elite defensive impact. His rookie season featured his contract being converted to a standard deal before the historic NBA Bubble, and Dort became the most lovable NBA meme on that side of Aleksej Pokusevski, shutting down James Harden in the postseason as the Thunder pushed the Rockets to seven games.

OKC Thunder Guard Lu Dort a Western Conference player of the week nominee

Luguentz Dort as a rookie shot a lowly 29-percent from three, from the floor he only shot 39-percent while turning in six points per game. Those numbers leaped in his Sophomore season to 14 points, on 34-percent from three-point land. Though, Dort continued to struggle around the rim.

With his elite defense, good free throw shooting (up to 88-percent from the stripe this season), a solid three-point shot if he gains consistency, Lu Dort unlocking rim finishing could truly take him to the next level as a player.

In the last week, Lu Dort put up 20 points per game, four rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a pair of triples a night. He shot 52-percent from the floor, 33-percent from three, and 87-percent from the line. In that time, He locked up James Harden just like old times, and the OKC Thunder ripped off a four-game winning streak.

The OKC Thunder have back-to-back weeks with players nominated for the Western Conference Player of the Week award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a nominee last week, with Lu Dort getting tabbed as a nominee this week. Not too shabby for an undrafted guard.